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I just bought new BFGs for the Rallye wheels on my '71. My wife and I are driving from Seattle to Napa in August and the old tires were almost ten years old. I looked at 18" wheels, but it's so hard to find something I like with the right backspacing. I think after this driving season, I'll have to bite the bullet and get a 3-piece custom wheel, which seem to start at about $1,500 per corner for the ones that I like. One side benefit, though, it that they are really light and will reduce unsprung weight by a lot.
Robert, in the past SLP offered a set of ZR1 style wheels in 17" that had the correct offset for the C3 Corvette. They were quite popular for a while, but the only place that I've found that carries them recently is Summit. You may be able to find a set on eBay. You could also contact SLP directly and see if they still carry them. They were an excellent wheel that looked like it belonged on the C3.
Good luck... GUSTO
That doesn't mean much unless you are running the SCCA showroom stock class series where you are quite limited to the aftermarket parts you can use. Lots of guys are competitive in other series with their C5's while running square setups using 4 of the 18" rear wheels on their cars.
The premise everyone was making, and because of it trying to convince the OP to go with bigger rims, was that bigger rims improve handling. That article conclusively proves that's not necessarily true. In fact, Justin Bell, who drove the C5R for Pratt & Miller in 2000, was able to take a C5 FRC with the smaller wheels around the track as fast as he was able to drive his Z06 on the bigger wheels. Despite a 50 hp deficit. Bigger wheels are not always better.
Robert, in the past SLP offered a set of ZR1 style wheels in 17" that had the correct offset for the C3 Corvette. They were quite popular for a while, but the only place that I've found that carries them recently is Summit. You may be able to find a set on eBay. You could also contact SLP directly and see if they still carry them. They were an excellent wheel that looked like it belonged on the C3.
Good luck... GUSTO
I do not believe that these SLP rims are still available new????
The premise everyone was making, and because of it trying to convince the OP to go with bigger rims, was that bigger rims improve handling. That article conclusively proves that's not necessarily true. In fact, Justin Bell, who drove the C5R for Pratt & Miller in 2000, was able to take a C5 FRC with the smaller wheels around the track as fast as he was able to drive his Z06 on the bigger wheels. Despite a 50 hp deficit. Bigger wheels are not always better.
Yup. You've conclusively proven that in a very specific, rules-limited, SCCA Showroom Stock class application, 17" wheels are better than 18" wheels for C5s driven by a professional race car driver. 17" is still bigger than 15". What tires would C3s be limited to if they were to compete in this (defunct) class?
Getting back to the title of this thread, if you can tell me where I can buy a set of Goodyear Eagle F1 Supercar tires (used in the test) in 255/60-R15, I'll buy a set, even if they cost as much as the Avons. I run 15s on my cars. I prefer the look, and I'd love for Goodyear or anyone to make $200- performance tires in our size, but they don't. The 15s look great on our cars (69ttop502 has a fine example), but our choices are extremely limited. The performance market moved to 17" tires 20 years ago, and now 18" is where development starts.
So other than a few all-season tires, drag-racing tires, and the $400- Avon tires, are there any other options for 15" wheels?
Well? If people are keen to check the web site of Longstone tires in UK, they will find what they are looking for. After a 3 minutes search I found: 225/65, 235/70, 255/45, 255/60 and 65, 270/45, 275/55 and 60, 295/40 and 50,335/35, 345/35, in Michelin,Avon,Pirelli... Price? Well ? You get what you pay ( a lot ! ) for . Unfortunately we are in the same class as some vintage exotic cars but with not the same $ value. Or you can have semi slick Yokohama in 225/60 , doesn't really look right and last long , but good in the rain.
I run Avon on mine.
The premise everyone was making, and because of it trying to convince the OP to go with bigger rims, was that bigger rims improve handling. That article conclusively proves that's not necessarily true. In fact, Justin Bell, who drove the C5R for Pratt & Miller in 2000, was able to take a C5 FRC with the smaller wheels around the track as fast as he was able to drive his Z06 on the bigger wheels. Despite a 50 hp deficit. Bigger wheels are not always better.
Quite trying to make it out that others are posting things they have not. I never posted bigger is better. I posted that moving to a rim size larger than 15" can improve performance BECAUSE there are better performance tires available for the larger rim sizes. Of course, if you chose to go to a larger rim size and put complete junk for tires onto those rims then you won't see any improvement.
Posting "one car was faster than another one" = meaningless. The article page talked about using the T1 suspension, but why bother posting about that kind of detail? The whole article probably included things like an optimized track alignment too, but why bother with that kind of detail either?
So what 15" rubber should they put on the car to go even faster?
Last edited by lionelhutz; 06-22-2018 at 09:20 PM.
Another thing is: how often are we doing qualifying laps around a track or the block ?? I like to drive my Vette because I feel more alive in it than my M3 . Yes, the rear will sometime move and I like it . Yes the front will sometime push and I like it. Why ? Because with this car I need to think ! Or just drive it matter of facts. When I want to go somewhere in hurry, I drive the German rocket and the car will do everything for me.
Everything is a compromise, race cars or.. street cars. You can modify your Vette all your heart content, but at the end a modern sport car will still be a better package.
But nothing can stop you to improve things a bit !!
This is looking just great, I assume that the wheels are 8,5 x 15 (just like mine). Do You have the Tire size front / back? Again I love it, racing Slicks or not. The size is perfect! I run BFG's on mine but they are 70 Inch tall tires...
I don’t know why you would say a 15 inch wheel is not optimal for our cars. Many, like me, prefer the look of 15 inch rims along with a tire with some sidewall. I am staying with 15’s and going to run the Avon’s, and am confident I will have handling similar to all of you with 18’s and the better tires, and complement my suspension upgrades. This is what my car will look like. Just think they look right with the 15’s and good rubber.
This is looking just great, I assume that the wheels are 8,5 x 15 (just like mine). Do You have the Tire size front / back? Again I love it, racing Slicks or not. The size is perfect! I run BFG's on mine but they are 70 Inch tall tires...
The tires in the pics are, front, Goodyear 6.00 x 15 which have a diameter of 25.5 and a section width of 10.6. The rears are 7.00 x 15 and have a diameter of 26.8 and a section width of 12 inches. I am going to run the Avon’s, 245/60/15 on the front and either 275/55/15 or 295/50/15 in the rear depending on fit. I will probably stencil them Goodyear though lol!
My wheels are P.S. Engineering just like the ones pictured and are 15x 8.5 with 4.25 backspace on all 4 corners. Will probably have the rears widened to accommodate the maximum backspace that will fit. Will probably end up at 9.75 wide and 5.5 backspace as Ridetech says that will work with their rear system. With 15 inch wheels the 4.25 backspace is very close to the steering arm end in the front, but works fine. I was told by the owner of the car pictured that his wheels were only 8 inches wide. Don’t know backspace but that rear tire is almost exactly the same width as a 295/50/15.
The tires in the pics are, front, Goodyear 6.00 x 15 which have a diameter of 25.5 and a section width of 10.6. The rears are 7.00 x 15 and have a diameter of 26.8 and a section width of 12 inches. I am going to run the Avon’s, 245/60/15 on the front and either 275/55/15 or 295/50/15 in the rear depending on fit. I will probably stencil them Goodyear though lol!
My wheels are P.S. Engineering just like the ones pictured and are 15x 8.5 with 4.25 backspace on all 4 corners. Will probably have the rears widened to accommodate the maximum backspace that will fit. Will probably end up at 9.75 wide and 5.5 backspace as Ridetech says that will work with their rear system. With 15 inch wheels the 4.25 backspace is very close to the steering arm end in the front, but works fine. I was told by the owner of the car pictured that his wheels were only 8 inches wide. Don’t know backspace but that rear tire is almost exactly the same width as a 295/50/15.
I'd like to see what you end up with for sure.
My setup so far is Weld 15x9 with 5 1/2 inch backset, but running a 3/4 inch thick wheel adaptor. The rear tire is a 295 55 15 MT ET Street, and with my car,...…(I know they're all different) I have about 1/4 inch between the frame at the T-arm pocket, and the tire. The tire mounted on the wheel measures 11 5/8 section width, and so in theory I have 4 3/4 inch backset..
The reason I posted was because I just did a ton of work to try and move my drag radials inboard. They stick out past the fender about 1/2 inch now, and as I mentioned the frame clearance is tight. I haven't dropped the car back down on the ground yet, but the measurements should be what I said earlier. I also had to install a short spring to clear the tire bulge,....not sure if you have considered that for your setup.
I see Avon's coming my way in the future too,...but they aren't cheap.
Last edited by The Money Pit; 10-23-2018 at 07:12 PM.
The tires in the pics are, front, Goodyear 6.00 x 15 which have a diameter of 25.5 and a section width of 10.6. The rears are 7.00 x 15 and have a diameter of 26.8 and a section width of 12 inches. I am going to run the Avon’s, 245/60/15 on the front and either 275/55/15 or 295/50/15 in the rear depending on fit. I will probably stencil them Goodyear though lol!
My wheels are P.S. Engineering just like the ones pictured and are 15x 8.5 with 4.25 backspace on all 4 corners. Will probably have the rears widened to accommodate the maximum backspace that will fit. Will probably end up at 9.75 wide and 5.5 backspace as Ridetech says that will work with their rear system. With 15 inch wheels the 4.25 backspace is very close to the steering arm end in the front, but works fine. I was told by the owner of the car pictured that his wheels were only 8 inches wide. Don’t know backspace but that rear tire is almost exactly the same width as a 295/50/15.
Hello,
I would love to see Pictures of Your car when is finished... Maybe You can post some, that would be a treat for me, Thank You!
06-22-2018, 09:27 AM
